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Cleveland Browns walk the 'Draft Day' orange carpet Members of the Cleveland Browns and select guests walked the orange carpet on their way into an advance screening of "Draft Day" the new movie with Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, Tuesday night at Cinemark Valley View.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Jaguars are still contemplating making an offer to Pro Bowl center Alex Mack league sources told cleveland.com, but Browns owner Jimmy Haslam indicated Tuesday that he'll match any offer they come up with.

"We remain optimistic that Alex Mack will be a Cleveland Brown for a long time,'' Haslam said on the "orange carpet'' at the local premiere of Draft Day at Cinemark Valley View theaters. "We want him to be. I think we've made it very clear that he's the kind of person, the kind of player we want in our organization.'

Asked specifically if he'd match any offer the Jaguars concoct, he smiled and said, "We want Alex to be a Cleveland Brown.''

Mack's close friend Joe Thomas, who also attended the local premiere of the Browns-based movie starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, was also confident his linemate will be wearing orange and brown again in 2014.

"Well, there's no doubt that he will be here at least this year,'' said Thomas. "I think that's for certain. I certainly hope we can sign him to a long-term deal and keep him here for much longer than I'm here.''

He said he's talked to Mack, who received the transition tag last month, but not about his contract. If Mack signs the transition tender, he'll make a guaranteed $10.039 million for 2014 -- unless he signs a long-term contract with the Browns. The tender would make him the highest paid center in the league by about $2 million. Currently, Carolina's Ryan Kalil holds that distinction at an average of about $8.186 million a year.

"I talk to him, but just as a friend,'' Thomas said. "I know that business is business, so I don't try to get in between that side of things.

Is Thomas is still confident he'll look to his right and see Mack snapping the ball this season even though he visited the Jaguars over the weekend?

"Yeah,'' said Thomas.

Jimmy Haslam 'Draft Day' Orange Carpet Browns owner Jimmy Haslam attended the advance screening of "Draft Day" on Tuesday night. He talked about the Browns getting back to work, the off-season additions and the contract situation with Alex Mack.

Mack, the Browns' two-time Pro Bowler, met with the Jaguars Friday night and both sides felt it was a good fit, sources said. The Jaguars, who have more than $25 million in cap space, are seeking to replace retired center Brad Meester and want Mack to anchor their line. If they make him a great offer -- one that potentially pays him an average of $9 million to $10 million a year over the first three years -- and he signs it, the Browns will have five days to match under terms of the transition tag.

And although it might seem like a no-brainer for a Browns team that still has more than $30 million in cap room, it might not be that simple for Cleveland to match. Mack's agents, Marvin Demoff and Tim Younger, have stressed they can structure a deal in such a way that the Browns might balk.

Judging from the smile on Haslam's face when asked about matching, he appears ready for the Jaguars to bring it on. But sources have said that even though "poison pills'' designed to prevent a team a matching are no longer allowed, there are still ways to make the Browns think twice. (An example of a poison pill would be a stipulation that the player must be the highest paid lineman on the team).

If the Jaguars decide not to make an offer, Mack will likely sign the Browns' tender and become a free agent after this season. It would cost the Browns more than $12 million to tag him again in 2015, so it's highly unlikely. If he hits the market after this season, he'll likely receive anywhere from $15 million to $22 million guaranteed, for a total of $25 million to $32 million guaranteed including this season's salary.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer, who also walked the orange carpet Tuesday night, cast his vote for Mack to stay -- especially with Browns' offseason program beginning Monday.

"Obviously we've made it kind of evident how important Alex is to this team and whether it's talking with Joe (Thomas) or talking with some of the other players, we're all just hoping it gets resolved soon and he's back,'' Hoyer said. "Obviously we have a new system to learn and he's the anchor of that offensive line, so we're hoping that gets resolved soon. Guys have to do what's best for them, but Alex is huge for our offense and his veteran leadership along with Joe on the offensive line (is key). Like I said, learning a new system, a center is usually a big part of certain calls and things like that, so we're hoping Alex gets back here soon and things get worked out.''

It looks like Haslam and the Browns will do whatever it takes to try to make that happen.

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